Windworks Sailing & Powerboating

I had not been sailing in several years but it was very easy to reconnect and learn a lot about sailing in Puget Sound and San Juan islands. Very good instruction and at a reasonable cost. They definitely have ratcheted up their offerings too since I joined in August of 2012.

I am a long time member of Windworks and am a certified bareboat skipper — we have always appreciated the helpfulness of the staff/​trainers and condition that the boats are maintained in the fleet. But the way they helped us out last week made me want to write a great review — We had a recent last minute «need» to charter a powerboat and I needed the powerboat training to be the skipper — the Windworks team figured out how to get my training scheduled quickly and we were able to take the boat out for a great day on the Sound to celebrate a birthday. Cannot say enough about Bill and his team about being customer responsive and accommodating, and very professional. My instructor, Brian, not only provided excellent basic powerboat handling training, but also provided some great insights and really made me think so that I became a better skipper. THANK YOU WINDWORKS TEAM!

Visiting seattle from the east coast and the weather was so gorgeous that we had to get on the water. This place is not cheap for non members, but the staff are highly competent and the check out process efficient. The boat we booked experienced some engine problems during the check out process, and the staff immediately swapped us into another (nicer!) boat without an upcharge. Windworks has plenty of foul weather gear for people to borrow. Shilshole marina is very well maintained and provides easy access to bainbridge and seattle. Go on a sunny day and experience some breathtaking views from the puget sound.

Windworks Sailing Center exceeded all of my expectations on all levels of our relationship. I purchased a Sailboat in Seattle over a 1000 miles from my home port in Southern California. The boat needed extensive re-​commissioning before it could be put in to charter. Windworks handled every detail of the process and got the boat ready to earn income and be under management for the next 18 months. We enjoyed our time sailing the Puget Sound and having someone responsible for the upkeep of our boat. They were outstanding in every way to make this a pleasure instead of a burden. Now that we have our boat back in Marina del Rey I can assure anyone who is thinking of putting their boat into charter to look no further as Windworks is the best.

After enviously watching the sailboats out on Elliott Bay, my husband and I decided to learn to sail. We attended the Boat Show, and signed up for membership and lessons (at a different club). Even with our first certification, we didn’t feel comfortable or confident enough to take a sailboat out on our own, so we didn’t.
Enter Windworks. At the next year’s Boat Show, we found the Windworks booth. We signed up for Basic Keelboat, for what we thought would be a refresher course, and also for Basic Cruising. The Windworks BK program was much more thorough, and a lot more fun! At the end of the class, we were even given two passes to take a boat out on our own, which we did. Then the BC course gave us the confidence to take out even bigger boats.
The people at Windworks are friendly and very welcoming. Even to beginners. There is a «Windshare» program, where emails are sent out by members to help fill a charter — most welcome beginners, some even welcome kids or guests.
The boats are kept clean and in great shape — yes, this means you have to wash down the boat and store the sails properly when you return it, and you will find it that way when you want to take it out. There is a wide range of boat sizes available to members, and many of the smaller ones available for day-​sailing.
If you want to buy your own boat, the owner, Greg, will be happy to talk to you about the option of including your boat in the charter program — saving you money, and assuring your boat won’t sit and gather moss.
In summary, the boats are great, the classes are thorough, but the people make the club. All skill levels are welcome; there is no «clique».

My wife and I are new to sailing, and when asking around we heard only praise for the training offered by Windworks. We recently completed the Basic Keelboat course and each received a free day sail! The instructors were professional and instilled confidence without intimidation. Best of all, the majority of the class time is spent on the water.

I’ve been sailing for years on other people’s boats and finally decided to take a course and learn on my own. Windworks has the perfect program to learn from the basics through to the advanced levels of taking a boat out on your own. I knew what I was looking for so after a year of research I finally chose Windworks because they have the right balance of learning the aspects of sailing along with understanding the many systems of running a boat (wind, rigging, electrical, radio, engine, and navigation). Their instructors are patient, friendly, and knowledgeable enough to teach all levels from beginner to advanced. They teach in the classroom, use model boats to teach the basics, and then quickly get you out on the water.
Very important is that they have a balanced fleet of small to large cruising and racing boats and they do a great job of keeping the boats in good clean shape. The class sizes are small so you get plenty of hands-​on experience for yourself while learning from the other classmates. I’ve never had more than 3 other people on the boat which meant we each received alot time with the various systems. We learned to sail, dock, and work all of the equipment. After just a few classes I was able to feel comfortable taking a boat out on my own with friends. The membership program runs very efficiently and every weekend there’s always someone taking a boat out so it’s easy to just tag along to get time on the water.
The whole process and costs make it so easy once involved you kind of get hooked. If you’re looking to learn, or just get out and sail, Windworks is the way to go.

I’ve been sailing for many years, owning boats and chartering in many places. When I moved to Seattle 6 years ago, I decided to try a sailing club because I was sick of maintaining a boat and paying moorage fees especially during times when I could not get out very often.
I tried Windworks and have been very pleased with every aspect of their operation. They have an exceptional fleet of sea worthy sailboats from 22′ to 49′ that are clean and ready to go when you are. Their staff is friendly and helpful, always making an effort to accommodate the needs of the membership.
For those new to sailing, Windworks runs a highly professional sailing school leading to certifications for all levels. More importantly, they instill the confidence in students that allows them to enjoy themselves and make good decisions when the weather gets rough.
Sailing with Windworks offers excellent family outings and is a wonderful activity for singles who have the opportunity to meet people of similar interests. They can meet by scheduling sails with others using the club’s Webpage; in addition, several times a year the club hosts social events such as banquets and BBQ. There is a large calendar of events such as refresher sails and friendly racing events followed by food and drink.
Sailing is a wonderful outdoor experience; power without the noise of an internal combustion engine. One gets exercise and has a feeling of independence being able to go places that you cannot otherwise see. With the Puget Sound offering some of the best year-​round sailing and Windworks to put you in the driver’s seat, I recommend trying it out with one of their beginning classes.
Windworks also offers powerboat chartering and instruction if that’s of interest.

I have been sailing for a few years now and am very particular about my boats and the people I trust to sail with me. Windworks has a great staff, highly skilled skippers and the best range of boats to choose from in Seattle. If you want to learn new skills or just enjoy a day sailing this is the best place for it all.

The entire staff at Windworks makes my day. When I call, Laura knows who I am even before I identify myself! I am a newish sailor and I already feel at home walking through their door. Their instructors are, by and large, excellent and not once have I doubted their skill or knowledge. Flexibility is the name of the game and finding fellow sailors at a moment’s notice is a cinch. Opportunities for improvement are ample and their free sails once (or more) per month make me feel very valued, especially in an expensive sport. In this economy it’s hard to run, let’s face it, a luxury business, but I’ve always felt they do their very best to show their members how much they appreciate them while helping me to be the best sailor I can be.